AMNA NAWAZ: Good evening.

I'm Amna Nawaz.

GEOFF BENNETT: And I'm Geoff Bennett.

On the "News Hour" tonight: President# Trump tries to.. the historically independent Federal Reserve by# moving to fire a prominent member of its board.

AMNA NAWAZ: The president calls# Baltimore a hellhole and threatens## to send in the National Guard.# We speak with the city's mayor.

BRANDON SCOTT (D), Mayor of Baltimore,# Maryland: I would hope that the president## would work alongside us, instead of# trying to treat my city as a political## theater or political pawns in some game.# That's not something that we appreciate.

GEOFF BENNETT: And climate change and# dwindling water supply from the Colorado## River raise concerns for a California# valley that helps feed the nation.

(BREAK) GEOFF BENNETT: Welcome to the "News Hour."

President Trump made it explicitly clear# today he is seeking mo.. Federal Reserve.

The president says he has fired# Fed governor Lisa Cook from the bank's board,## but she says she's not leaving and# will take the administration to court.

AMNA NAWAZ: Cook's departure would# create two board vacancies in just## the last month.

What's at stake is the# balance of power on the nation's top bank,## which could potentially undermine# its long-held independence.

DONALD TRUMP, President of the United States:# I want to thank you all for being here.

AMNA NAWAZ: President Trump today doubling down# on his fight to exert control over the Fed,## repeating claims that he has the authority to# fire Federal Reserve Board Governor Lisa Cook,## accusing her of making false# statements to get a better mortgage.

DONALD TRUMP: She seems to have had an# infraction.

And she can't have an infraction,## especially that infraction, because she's# in charge of, if you think about it,## mortgages.

And we need people that are 100 percent# aboveboard, and it doesn't seem like she was.

AMNA NAWAZ: Mr. Trump announced Cook's firing in a# statement late Monday, writing -- quote -- "I have## determined that faithfully executing the law# requires your immediate removal from office."

DONALD TRUMP: What she did was bad, so# I will fire her if she doesn't resign.

AMNA NAWAZ: Trump vowed last week# to remove cook if she didn't step## down.

The law does allow a president to# fire a Fed governor, but only for cause.

Cook fired back in her own statement today, saying# -- quote -- "President Trump purported to fire me## for cause when no cause exists under the law and# he has no authority to do so.

I will not resign."

At the heart of Trump's justification to fire# Cook are allegations that Cook lied on mortgage## applications in order to secure more favorable# terms.

Bill Pulte, the Trump-installed head of## the Federal Housing Finance Agency, or FHFA,# posted on X two sets of signatures that he## says show Cook claiming both an Atlanta condo# and a Michigan home as her primary residences.

Cook, the first Black woman# ever to serve as a Fed governor,## has maintained that the allegations are# from before she was on the board.

The## Justice Department plans to investigate,# but has not announced any charges.

Trump and the FHFA have leveled similar# accusations of mortgage fraud against## political enemies, New York Attorney General# Letitia James and California Senator Adam## Schiff.

Schiff recently addressed# the claims on NBC's "Meet the Press."

KRISTEN WELKER, Moderator,# "Meet the Press": Are these## allegations true?

How do.. SEN. ADAM SCHIFF (D-CA): They're patently false,## and the president knows that in the housing# agency president's person Pulte knows it.

He's## essentially doing the president's bidding# against me, against Letitia James against## this person on the Federal Reserve.

Mortgage# is their new weapon to go after their critics.

AMNA NAWAZ: Lisa Cook's lawyer has vowed# to challenge her removal in court.

And## the Federal Reserve and the president# said they'd abide by any court decision.## If Trump succeeds in ousting Cook, he could# dramatically remake the board in his favor.

Among its seven members are two# Trump appointees from his first term,## Michelle Bowman and Christopher# Waller.

He nominated White House## economist Stephen Miran to replace# Adriana Kugler, who left abruptly## this month.

Replacing Cook on the board# would give Trump nominees a 4-3 majority.

DONALD TRUMP: We will have a majority# very shortly, so that will be great.

AMNA NAWAZ: Presidents of both parties have# largely respected the Fed's independence,## but Trump has long complained about the# independent federal agency and its chairman,## Jerome Powell, for not cutting interest rates.

Board governors serve for a 14-year term.

And# in a statement today, the Fed confirmed they## may be -- quote -- "removed by the president# only for cause," also writing that the lengthy## terms are -- quote -- "a vital safeguard, ensuring# that monetary policy decisions are based on data,## economic analysis and the long-term# interests of the American people."

With Lisa Cook's attempted firing,# opponents of the move worry it could## further erode the Fed's independence# in a political battle for its control.

For more, we're joined now by two guests# who know a great deal about the Fed.## Lael Brainard was vice chair of the# Federal Reserve Board of Governors## and a member of the board from 2014 to# 2023.

She also served as undersecretary## of the treasury for international affairs# under President Obama, among other roles.

And David Wessel is senior fellow in# economic studies and the director of the## Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary# Policy at the Brookings Institution.

And just a note.

We did invite Bill# Pulte to join us on the program,## but the Trump administration declined.

In the meantime, welcome to you# both, and thanks for joining us.

Lael, I will start with you.

You were at the Fed for nearly a decade, most# recently under.. are he and other board governors looking# at this moment, the standoff now between## Lisa Cook and President Trump, and what# does it mean for how they do their work?

LAEL BRAINARD, Former Vice# Chair, Federal Reserve: Well,## this is an incredi..

It really is an unprecedented attack on# the independence of the Federal Reserve.## It is an aggressive effort to seize control# of the majority on the board.

And I think## the risks here are really to the economy.# If the independence of the Federal Reserve## to fight inflation is seen as compromised, it# actually will lead not to lower interest rates,## but higher interest rates on things# like mortgages and small business loans,## because people will be anticipating# that inflation will go up.

That's what we saw in the 1970s, the# last time this kind of attack took place,## and that's what we're likely to see here again.

AMNA NAWAZ: David Wessel, what's your take?

As Lael points out, this move is# unprecedented in the 100-year-p.. history of this institution.

What are# the risks?

What are the implications?

DAVID WESSEL, Brookings Institution:# I think we're wearing out the word## unprecedented in this administration.

This# is just another move b.. assert control over every single# aspect of the federal government.

He clearly wants to get control of the Federal# Reserve Board, the seven governors in Washington,## because he would like to see lower interest# rates.

Importantly, there are monetary policies## made by these seven governors, but also the# presidents of five of the 12 reserve banks.

All 12 reserve bank presidents are up for# reappointment at the end of February.

They## are subject to be removed by a vote# of the Federal Reserve Board.

And,## clearly, Trump is trying to get a majority# before the board can reaffirm these people.## And we don't know what he will do, but there's# a possibility that they will try and get rid## of some of the Fed bank presidents who# are not with the president's program.

AMNA NAWAZ: Lael, do you view -- do you see# that happening ahead?

And also if Trump's## nominees do make up the majority, does it# make it easier for interest rates to be## lower?

Does it make it easier for the president# to fire Jay Powell, as he's threatened to do?

LAEL BRAINARD: Well, absolutely.

Look, I think you have to ask yourself.. Why not go through the facts?

Why not# provide due process?

It does suggest## that the White House is in a real hurry to# seize control of the majority of the board.

And, yes, if that results in a majority of# the overall monetary policy-setting committee## being aligned with the White House, it becomes# a political interest rate-setting policy,## which will lead, again, to higher inflation,## bad for American households, and higher# interest rates on mortgages and cars.

And so it's very, very dangerous,# and it will take years to fix it.

AMNA NAWAZ: And would it make it easier# for the president to fire the chair,## Jay Powell, if he had a majority on the board?

LAEL BRAINARD: So I think the issue# really has gone beyond that.

This is## really seizing control of the majority,# which means that you have enough votes to## push against interest rate policy that# you don't like one way or the other.

And the other thing I think is really# important to think about is, if you are## on the board or you are one of the Reserve# bank presidents, how fearful are you going## to be by this kind of intimidation to state# your views, your honest views about what's## the appropriate course of policy to fight# inflation and keep the labor market strong?

AMNA NAWAZ: David Wessel, as you know,# the Senate would need to confirm anyone## that Mr. Trump nominates to fill these# roles on the Board of Governors.

They## need a simple majority.

They did block one of# President Trump's picks back in his first term,## but do you see that happening in a# second term?

Would Republicans push## back on a nominee they view as partisan or# someone who's not qualified for the role?

DAVID WESSEL: Well, so far,# the Senate Republicans have## seemed pretty willing to confirm almost# anybody that the president sends up.

Now, there is -- there has been some reluctance# on the part of some Republican senators## to attack the Fed.

Senator Thom Tillis# is on the Banking Committee.

He's been## a defender of Jay Powell and the# Fed.

So there's a possibility there,## but I think some of this depends on how# the Senate sees the markets reacting.

And so far the markets have been, to my view,# surprisingly complacent.

Yields on long-term## treasures have gone up a little bit.

And I think# that will encourage the president to think that I## can get away with this.

And so far the Senate has# let him get away with almost anything he wants.

AMNA NAWAZ: Well, we also know, David, that# the president pays very close attention to## the stock market.

So far, it seems to be taking# the news in stride.

What do you make of that?

DAVID WESSEL: I have a hard enough# time trying to figure out what## motivates President Trump.

Understanding# the markets is really beyond my competence.

Clearly, they expect lower interest rates,# at least in the short term.

They seem to be## euphoric about the possibility that artificial# intelligence will boost our prospects long term.## And they seem to have this -- the markets# seem to have this belief that somehow the## stuff they like about Trump will prevail and# the stuff they don't like, like tariffs, won't.

I just can't explain it.

AMNA NAWAZ: Lael, we know that Lisa Cook# is challenging her firing.

The case could## make its way all the way up to the Supreme# Court, but regardless of what happens legally,## are we now just in this period where# a U.S. president, at least this one,## can and will try to influence economic policy# decisions that were previously independent,## that were nonpartisan, in# much more aggressive ways?

Have we just entered a new era?

LAEL BRAINARD: Yes, we are absolutely in# uncharted territory, where every person who## is entrusted with setting monetary policy# by statute, by Congress in an independent## way has now got to be thinking, what if# the president doesn't like my position?## Should I be continuing to talk about# how tariffs lead to higher inflation?

And should I continue talking# about how it is difficult## to be lowering interest rates in an environment# where inflation is going up?

So I do think,## again, this very unprecedented attack, lack of# due process, has to be giving everybody on that## monetary policy committee pause about what# that means for their own ability to conduct## the responsibility of being independent from# the White House in setting monetary policy.

AMNA NAWAZ: You're saying it would# have a chilling effect; is that right?

LAEL BRAINARD: I think it would really# undermine the independence and the quality## of the discourse.

You couple that with the# fact that an official statistical agency## head was fired for delivering bad news on# the labor market, and it starts to really## undermine the fundamental pillars of our# exceptionally strong and dynamic economy.

AMNA NAWAZ: Lael Brainard and David Wessel,## thank you to you both for joining# us tonight.

Appreciate it.

LAEL BRAINARD: Thank you.

DAVID WESSEL: You're welcome.

GEOFF BENNETT: We start the day's other# headlines in the Middle East.

The Israeli military says it was targeting# a Hamas surveillance camera when it struck## a hospital in Southern Gaza yesterday, killing 20# people, including five journalists.

As part of an## initial inquiry into the strike, the IDF says the# camera was being used to observe the activity of## IDF troops in order to direct terrorist activities# against them, but did not provide evidence.

It also says that six of those killed in# Monday's attack were terrorists.

Meantime,## Israel's Security Cabinet met to discuss the# military's expanded offensive in Gaza City,## but reportedly did not address cease-fire talks.

Across Israel, protesters held a day# of disruption to pressure Israel's## leaders to negotiate a hostage deal with Hamas.

TSIPI HAITOVSKY, Protester: Today is a day of# resistance, calling the Israeli government to## seal the deal that's now on the table and to bring# all the hostages home and to end the war in Gaza.

GEOFF BENNETT: Meantime, more Palestinians# are trying to leave Gaza City after the## latest strikes killed at least 18 people# there.

That's according to local officials,## who say that, all told, overnight shelling# killed at least 34 people across all of Gaza.

Here at home, a federal judge tossed out the Trump# administration's lawsuit against Maryland's entire## federal bench today.

U.S. District Judge# Thomas Cullen, himself a Trump appointee,## called the case potentially calamitous, writing# that: "This concerted effort by the executive## to smear and impugn individual judges who rule# against it is both unprecedented and unfortunate."

The Trump administration had filed the# lawsuit after a top Maryland judge moved## to block the immediate deportation of migrants# from the state back in May.

The government had## argued that the pause infringed on President# Trump's authority to enforce immigration laws.

In Arizona, thousands were still without power# around Phoenix today after a massive storm## battered the area.

It began late yesterday,# when wind kicked up a huge wall of dust.## Time-lapse video shows it plunging downtown into# darkness and reducing visibility to almost zero.

WOMAN: OK, we're in the middle of a haboob.

GEOFF BENNETT: Haboob is the technical term for# that type of dust storm.

Many drivers were left## stranded as the wind rattled their cars.

The# storm also caused major disruptions at Phoenix## Sky Harbor Airport, where hundreds of flights# were grounded and part of the roof was damaged.

Monsoon rains, thunder and lightning followed.# The weather phenomenon is not uncommon in the## Southwest this time of year, but experts# say this storm was especially strong.

The Trump administration says it will# withhold federal funding from California,## Washington and New Mexico if the states don't# enforce English-language requirements for## truck drivers.

The warning is part of a broader# investigation into the enforcement of President## Trump's executive order from April on English# proficiency.

It comes after a foreign-born## driver in Florida made an illegal U-turn# earlier this month, killing three people.

SEAN DUFFY, U.S. Transportation# Secretary: This is about keeping## people safe on the road, your families.

GEOFF BENNETT: Today, Transportation Secretary# Sean Duffy said the states have failed to ensure## that drivers can read signs and speak to law# enforcement.

He's giving states 30 days to comply.

And Cracker Barrel is sticking with its# controversial new logo despite a fierce backlash,## including from President Trump.

He took to# social media today to say that Cracker Barrel## should go back to the old logo, admit a mistake# and manage the company better than ever before.

It follows a statement yesterday# in which the company admitted that:## "We could have done a better job sharing# who we are and who we will always be."

The old logo featured the restaurant's Uncle# Herschel leaning against a barrel with the## words "Old Country Store" underneath.

The# new logo strips all of that away.

It's part## of a broader rebrand widely criticized# on social media as soulless and bland.

On Wall Street today, investors largely brushed# off concerns about President Trump's moves to## fire the Fed governor Lisa Cook.

The Dow Jones# industrial average gained more than 130 points## on the day.

The Nasdaq added nearly 100# points.

The S&P 500 also ended higher.

And it certainly hasn't been a cruel# summer for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.## The pop superstar and the Super Bowl champion# announced their engagement today.

In a five-photo## joint Instagram post, they're seen in# a fairy tale garden with the caption:## "Your English teacher and your# gym teacher are getting married."

It's amassed 18 million likes# and counting.

The pair started## dating nearly two years ago and their# relationship has captivated millions,## with Swift attending Kansas City Chiefs games# and Kelce cheering on her Eras Tour last year.## Looks like Taylor found her endgame after# all.

Congratulations to the both of them.

Still to come on the "News Hour":# we fact-check the many claims made## during today's White House Cabinet# meeting; President Trump authorizes## a rapid-response National Guard force to# stop what he calls civil disturbances;## and an invasive species of insect# threatens vineyards on the East Coast.

AMNA NAWAZ: President Trump spent more# than three hours touting what he sees## as his administration's achievements at# his Cabinet meeting today.

He weighed## in on everything from crime rates to# Taylor Swift to prescription drugs.

But it was his comments about reinstating the# death penalty for murder cases in Washington,## D.C., that we will start with tonight.

Political correspondent Lisa# Desjardins joins us now.

Good to see you.

LISA DESJARDINS: You too.

AMNA NAWAZ: So w.. his larger proclaimed crackdown# on crime in Washington, D.C.,## but what did the president announce when# it comes to the death penalty in D.C.?

LISA DESJARDINS: Let's start with# exactly what the president said.## This announcement came during an# unrelated part of this meeting,## which was about education.

But, during that,# the president interjected this announcement: DONALD TRUMP, President of the# United States: Capital punishment,## capital capital punishment.

If somebody# kills somebody in the capital, Wa.. D.C., we're going to be seeking the death# penalty.

And that's a very strong preventative.

LISA DESJARDINS: A lot to pack in# those 18 or so seconds -- unpack,## rather.

And let me start backwards.

First of all, this idea that the# death penalty itself is a deterrent,## there has long been debate about that.# But the scholarship in the last 30 years## has been moving away from the idea that it is a# deterrent.

And there is certainly not evidence## that it is in any way a strong preventative,# as the president says.

No evidence for that.

Now, let's talk about what exactly is# happening here.

A lot of people are## scratching their heads.

It's a very serious thing# the president is saying here saying that he can## make all murder cases capital punishment cases# in the United States capital of Washington, D.C. Now, the issue here is that, of course,# Washington, D.C., does not have the death penalty## right now.

The city abolished it in the 1980s.# And in the 1990s, the citizens of Washington,## D.C., also voted to keep it abolished.

But it's# a federal city.

And the prosecutor there is the## U.S. attorney who works for the Department# of Justice and works for President Trump.

He hasn't given details here,## but the thinking is that that is somehow# how he hopes to get this acco.. AMNA NAWAZ: So the president is clearly saying# what he would like to see happen.

But can the## president unilaterally decide that the death# penalty would be the punishment for those crimes?

LISA DESJARDINS: This is the question here.

When you take apart his words,# he does seem to be indicating## that all murder cases in the city# would become death penalty cases,## even though that is not part of D.C. law right# now.

So how would he do that?

Talking to experts,## perhaps he would have to try and apply a# federal standard somehow to city crimes.

But there is an issue there, not only with D.C.# law, but with U.S. law.

The Supreme Court in## the 1970s ruled that mandatory death penalty of# sentences is unconstitutional.

We talked to the## death penalty information center, and# they said that not only would this be## breaking a precedent for Washington,# D.C., but, in that way, for the nation.

ROBIN MAHER, Executive Director, Death Penalty# Information Center: The Supreme Court said that## juries have to first consider the individual# characteristics of a defendant before.. make this incredibly important decision about# whether they will live or die.

So, if what## President Trump is talking about are mandatory# death sentences, that would be unconstitutional.

LISA DESJARDINS: Now, it comes back to what# you said at the beginning, Amna.

This is## part of President Trump's pushing# his authority on Washington, D.C.,## at first on law enforcement, and# now over the legal system itself.

And, of course, we don't# know what he intends to do,## but there are many questions about whether he can.

AMNA NAWAZ: There's a lot to# keep up in the Cabinet meeting.

There's another topic I want to ask you about,# and that is autism and this administrati.. ongoing push, they say, to investigate its# causes.

What did the president say about that?

LISA DESJARDINS: This really# caught our attention here,## an exchange between him and HHS# Secretary Robert F. Kennedy.

Kennedy has promised -- he says he's been# working on trying to find the underlying## cause of autism.

He himself has said he# thinks there may be a link to vaccines.## There is no study that has proven that.

Dozens# and dozens of studies have disproven that.

But I want you to pay very careful attention to# the words between him and President Trump today.

ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR., U.S. Health and Human# Services Secretary: We will have announcements,## as promised, in September finding interventions,## certain interventions, now that are# clearly almost certainly causing autism.

DONALD TRUMP: So there has to be# something artificially causing this,## meaning a drug or something.

LISA DESJARDINS: All right, nothing definitive# here, but a very important thing to watch.

The## president himself implied that there might be# a drug related, which we don't have any proof## of that.

And RFK saying he's found something,# and he's going to announce it in September.

This raises many more questions,# but we wanted to put this on the## radar because it is a very serious# indication of where HHS may be going.

AMNA NAWAZ: A lot more reporting on this ahead.

Lisa Desjardins, thank you so much.

LISA DESJARDINS: You're welcome.

GEOFF BENNETT: The demand for water# from the Colorado River is of paramount## importance out West and the focus of# some big battles.

It's been especially## critical for farming and agriculture.# And in California's Imperial Valley,## there are growing questions over the use of that# resource and whether bigger changes are needed.

Our science correspondent,# Miles O'Brien, has this report.

MILES O'BRIEN: All right, well, let's try one.

It was a cool, clear morning in the# citrus grove when Gina Dockstader## sliced open a Minneola orange# for me, flooding my taste buds.

Oh, that's delicious.

And blowing my mind.

Oh, my gosh.

It's almost magical when# you consider where we are,## the middle of a blazing hot low desert, where# Southern California meets Northern Mexico,## a place that gets unlimited sunshine, but# only two to three inches of rain each year.

Here we are standing in this lush# orchard in the middle of the desert.

GINA DOCKSTADER, Chair, Imperial Irrigation# District Board of Directors: It's amazing.

MILES O'BRIEN: Welcome to the Imperial Valley,# a half-million acres of highly .. irrigated farmland, America's winter salad bowl.

If the Imperial Valley didn't# exist, what we would see in## produce sections in the winter would# be entirely different, wouldn't it?

GINA DOCKSTADER: Entirely different, with# salads, with the lettuce, with broccoli.

I mean,## we just wouldn't have the vegetables, we# wouldn't have the fruit that we have now.

MILES O'BRIEN: About two-thirds of# the nation's winter vegetables are## grown right here.

And it would not happen# without water from the Colorado River.

J.B. HAMBY, Chair, Colorado River Board# of California: This is Imperial Dam.## We're straddling the Colorado River right now.

MILES O'BRIEN: J.B. Hamby is# California's Colorado River commissioner.

J.B. HAMBY: This is one of the final# stops on the Colorado River and one## of the lowest stretches here in# the desert, originating all the## way up in the Rocky Mountains as snowfall# makes its way here to this liquid gold,## which is water that supports our farms and# communities all throughout this region.

MILES O'BRIEN: Hamby is also a director# of the Imperial Irrigation District,## a powerful and controversial water agency# that controls the single largest entitlement## to Colorado River water, about three million acre# feet -- that's about a trillion gallons -- a year.

It's 70 percent of California's share.

J.B. HAMBY: The doctrine of prior# appropriation, first in time,## first in right, putting water to use# first, secures your ability to use it.

MILES O'BRIEN: It all began in the early 1900s,# when private developers dug the first canals## to divert Colorado River water into this# desert valley.

Despite the arid climate,## the land is astonishingly fertile.

Thousands# of years ago, the river flooded through here,## leaving behind rich alluvial soil,# more than 150 feet deep in some places.

Much of the valley lies below sea level,## so no pumps are needed.

Gravity does the# work.

When a farmer requests irrigation,## a zanjero, or ditch rider, simply# opens a gate to let the water flow in.

And so how long will this gate be open today?

JON SHIELDS, Imperial Valley Farmer: Well,## this gate, it'll probably run until# mo..

MILES O'BRIEN: Farmer Jon Shields showed# me how it works.

Smaller canals fill up,## more gates are opened, and the field is flooded.

JON SHIELDS: You can see that's the water's# running out nice and even out there.

MILES O'BRIEN: It's simple and cheap,# but with so much loss to evaporation,## hardly efficient.

And the cost of water here# provides little incentive to conserve.

It's only## $20 an acre foot, six-one-thousandths of a cent# per gallon.

For all practical purposes, it's free.

But this free resource is becoming more precious.# Since 2000, persistent record-setting drought,## fueled by climate change, has cut the Colorado's# flow by 20 percent.

The result?

A growing fight## over water and many eyes fixed on the Imperial# Valley and its outsized share of the pie.

TINA SHIELDS, Imperial Irrigation District:# With that water right come certain obligations## and lots of targets on your back, because you# are the solution to everybody else's problem.

MILES O'BRIEN: Tina Shields, Jon's wife, is# a water department manager in the district.

TINA SHIELDS: Our goal really is to keep our# community whole, keep food and production to## feed the nation.

But we know that we have# obligations and stewardship roles as the## largest irrigation district to keep California# on solid ground from a water supply perspective.

MILES O'BRIEN: So the district has struck a# series of deals with Southern California's## municipal water suppliers.

The cities pay# hundreds of dollars per acre foot for water.## The revenue helps fund local infrastructure# upgrades and advance conservation practices,## everything from laser-leveling fields to# drip irrigation and micro-sprinkler systems,## like the ones Gina Dockstader now uses.

The perception in cities sometimes# is that farmers have senior rights## and don't want to share.

Is that accurate?

GINA DOCKSTADER: No, I don't think that's# accurate at all.

There might be a little## resentment when you're going to go put# in another golf course using that water.

MILES O'BRIEN: The resentment runs# both ways when the talk turns to## alfalfa.

The Imperial Valley may be# known for growing winter produce,## but its dominant crop is alfalfa,# spreading across about 120,000 acres.

Grown mainly to feed livestock, the perennial# requires a lot more water relative to its value.

AMANDA STARBUCK, Research Director,# Food and Water Watch: What we need are,## first of all, moratoriums on# the expansion of alfalfa farms.

MILES O'BRIEN: Amanda Starbuck# is the research director for the## environmental advocacy group Food and Water Watch.

AMANDA STARBUCK: And we need# resources to help farmers shift## to farming systems that are more# in line with the climate reality.

MILES O'BRIEN: As global demand# for beef and dairy rises,## increasing amounts of alfalfa are# shipped overseas.

In the past decade,## California exported between 20 and 40# percent of its alfalfa hay production,## primarily to Asia and the Middle East, some# of it grown right here in the Imperial Valley.

George Frisvold is an economics# professor at the University of Arizona.

GEORGE FRISVOLD, University of# Arizona: That's been a source of## controversy because people are looking at, well,## water is being used.

It's exported in# body in the crops that we're exporting.

MILES O'BRIEN: There are ways to grow# alfalfa using a lot less water.

In the## summer, when temperatures often# reach 120 degrees, alfalfa grows## more slowly and requires twice as much water.

ROBERT GLENNON, Professor Emeritus,# University of Arizona Law School: We have to## stop growing alfalfa during th..

MILES O'BRIEN: Robert Glennon is a professor# emeritus at the University of Arizona Law School.

ROBERT GLENNON: If you turn off the irrigation# systems in June, you can turn them back on in## August or September and the alfalfa plants# have simply gone dormant.

They haven't died.

MILES O'BRIEN: The Imperial Irrigation# District is trying to implement that idea.

Jon Shields volunteered for a deficit irrigation# program that paid him to stop watering some## of his alfalfa fields in the summer.

But his# yield losses were higher than he anticipated.

JON SHIELDS: The fields just didn't come back as# good as I wanted them.

Every single one of them,## I have had to come in and replant.

It's not like# the old days where we could just water at will.

MILES O'BRIEN: Jon Shields is a fourth-generation# farmer.

Like so many here, his roots are as deep## as the alluvial soil.

But without the Colorado# River, the fertile ground is only desert.## So farmers here are scrambling for ways to# save their liquid gold and their way of life.

For the "PBS News Hour," I'm Miles# O'Brien in the Imperial Valley.

GEOFF BENNETT: President Trump# is threatening to send National## Guard troops into other Democratic-led cities# after ordering the Guard into Washington, D.C. One of his main targets is Baltimore.

The# president has repeatedly described the city## as crime-ridden, and today suggested# the Guard could -- quote -- "clean it## up."

Maryland's Democratic Governor Wes# Moore called the threats inappropriate,## and he invited the president to# visit Baltimore to see firsthand## the progress the city and state leaders# say they have made in driving down crime.

The president pushed back during# a Cabinet meeting this afternoon.

DONALD TRUMP, President of the United States:# Wes Moore was telling me he wants -- I want## to walk with the president.

Well, I said,# I want to walk with you too someday.

But,## first, you got to clean up your# crime, because I'm not walking...

I'm not walking in Baltimore# right now.

Baltimore is a hellhole.

GEOFF BENNETT: For more, we're joined now# by the mayor of Baltimore, Brandon Scott.

Mr. Mayor, thank you for being with us.

BRANDON SCOTT (D), Mayor of Baltimore,# Maryland: Thank you for having me.

GEOFF BENNETT: And I know you say you welcome# support from federal.. coordinated, but what's your response to what you# heard there from President Trump and his threat to## send National Guard troops into Baltimore?# How seriously are you taking that threat?

BRANDON SCOTT: Well, we take it very seriously.

But, first and foremost, I just think that# to have the president of the United States,## the person who's supposed to be# the leader of the free world,## one, talking about their own cities that way, but,# two, more importantly, not acknowledging that the## city of Baltimore is safer today than it has been# in my lifetime because of the leadership of myself## and others here from my police department,# our state's attorney, our attorney general,## our violence intervention workers, who# work hard each and every day, and we're## safer now than even in his first term, it's# just very disrespectful and it's unfortunate.

But we still welcome that# support, if done the right way,## because we work with our federal law and# foreign partners each and every day here## in Baltimore.

And I don't -- I'm not --# have never been one for the political## dog and pony show or the gotcha and the# back-and-forth.

That's never been my style.

My style is to focus on what matters the# most to me, and that's continuing this## historic reduction and violence in Baltimore,# because, as you and I are talking right now,## we have the fewest amount of homicides# through this date on record.

And that's## something that the president or# anyone else can take away from us.

But we're not celebrating.

We're acknowledging# that and saying that we can go further and would## hope that the president would work alongside us to# do that, instead of trying to treat my city as a## political theater or political pawns in some game,# because that's not something that we appreciate.

GEOFF BENNETT: Well, to your point, Baltimore# has seen real progress.

Homicides are down by## more than 20 percent over last year, non-fatal# shootings down nearly 20 percent.

But the city## is still battling one of the highest# violent crime rates in the country.

What more needs to happen to sustain# the gains that you're seeing?

BRANDON SCOTT: Yes, I think that# we have to continue the strategy.

And I think that what your# viewers have to understand## is that, when you're talking about# Baltimore and its crime rate, right,## you're talking about us having years of# having 300-plus homicides.

We broke that## with an historic reduction in 2023.

And then# we had another record-breaking year in 2024.

And we are now down 30 percent this year so far# on that record reduction.

Everyone understands## that this is an issue that we need to tackle.# It's actually the reason why I got into public## service in the first place.

I decided when I# was 7 years old that I wanted to be the mayor## of Baltimore because I saw someone be shot# in my community, and no one cared, right?

We are talking to someone who also was the# co-leader of the 300 Men March, the largest## anti-violence movement that Baltimore City has# ever seen, where me and 30 of my closest friends## would walk around the toughest neighborhoods# in the city, the ones that were experiencing## that violence, every Friday night, no guns, no# vests, none of that.

This is an issue that's very## personal to me in so many different ways.

And what# we need to see happen is continued investment.

We need the president to restore cuts to federal# grants for programming that is around community## violence intervention.

We need him to send more# FBI, DEA, ATF agents to work alongside our police## department on their predetermined already# missions and cases, not taking them off of## these cases to roam around D.C. or any other# city or to do immigration, but allowing them## to continue to go after gun traffickers,# violent offenders, drug organizations.

That's what we need to have happen to continue# this, because you don't see me celebrating.## We are safer than we have ever been in my# lifetime and that's still not enough for me.

GEOFF BENNETT: It has been more than two weeks## since President Trump deployed the# National Guard in Washington, D.C. D.C., as you know, is unique, in that# it falls under federal authority,## whereas Baltimore does not.

But what lessons# do you take from how it has played out so far?

BRANDON SCOTT: Well, that, one,# it's a very real thing and, two,## that we have to be making sure# that we're communicating with## our residents and other folks about# that this is a possibility for us.

We hope that the president hears that we# will like to see public safety investment## done the right way, but that also we have to be# prepared for if this does come.

And I think that## that's the conversation that I'm having,# that mayors around the country or having,## and that we have to realize that,# even amidst all of this progress## on reduction of violence in Baltimore and# D.C., in Chicago, all these other cities,## this is a real threat to our communities# and that we have to also not be fooled.

Stay focused on our mission here,# not allow these distraction tactics## and this flooding zone to distract us away# from the things that matter here at home.

GEOFF BENNETT: Yes.

You know, I have spoke.. as a wedge issue to portray Democratic# Black-led cities as lawless.

Washington,## D.C., New York City, Chicago,# Baltimore.

How do you see it?

BRANDON SCOTT: You can see that.# The proof is in the pudding,## right?

All of the cities called out are places# that have Black mayors that are De.. and many of them have governors that are# the same way or states that are that way.

It's unfortunate, right?

This, for me,# violence, gun violence, it's not a partisan## issue.

It shouldn't be a partisan issue, all# right?

It shouldn't be a partisan issue when## we're asking for things like ghost guns to# be banned or Glock switches to be banned,## because those bullets that are coming out of that# Glock that is now an automatic weapon doesn't care## if somebody's Republican and Democrat, doesn't# care if they're a grandmother or a police officer.

It's just literally taking people away from their# families.

These things should not be a partisan## issue.

In my time as an elected official, I have# worked with Republicans, Democrats, whoever,## who want to work on this most important issue.

And# it's unfortunate that, yet again, it's being used## to draw a wedge, but also to distract people from# other things, and also to just not tell the truth.

The truth is that these cities are safer than they# were in the president's first term.

They're safer## in many cases than they have been in decades.

And# we should be acknowledging that, while focusing## in on continuing to see the reductions, not this# dog and pony show that we are seeing right now.

GEOFF BENNETT: Brandon Scott# is the mayor of Baltimore.

Mr. Mayor, thank you for being with us.

BRANDON SCOTT: Thank you.

GEOFF BENNETT: Well, part of the# administration's efforts to be## able to send National Guard troops into# cities is a new order by President Trump## to modify the Guard's organization and# training and create rapid response units.

Our Nick Schifrin is here with# that part of the story -- Nick.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Geoff, yesterday, President# Trump signed an executive order that each## state's National Guard units would be --# quote -- "resourced, trained, organized,## and available to assist federal, state, and local# law enforcement in quelling civil disturbances."

And the secretary of defense will create# -- quote -- "standing National Guard quick## reaction force that shall be resource, trained# and available for rapid nationwide deployment."

For perspective on this, we turn to# retired Army Major General Randy Manner,## the former acting vice chief# of the National Guard Bureau.

General Manner, thanks very# much.

Welcome to the "News Hour."

What's your reaction to the president's order,## both this quick reaction force,# as well as the Guard's priority?

MAJ. GEN. RANDY MANNER (RET.

), U.S.# National Guard: I think this is## unneeded and also very dangerous...

This is something where, when I was the acting# vice chief of the National Guard Bureau,## we absolutely already put into place the ability# of having quick reaction forces in every state,## depending on the size, but also the state would# depend on the size of these quick reaction forces.

They were at the time, of course,# targeting the ability to respond## to emergencies in the state such as# floods, hurricanes, forest fires,## earthquakes, and so on to be able# to save lives.

The difference here## is that it's focused on -- quote, unquote# -- "public order."

That's very disturbing.

And also the idea of creating a unit whose# primary mission is to deploy anywhere in## the country to deal with potentially# demonstrations or civil disorder,## as the president sees fit out of the D.C.# Guard, that is not in keeping with the## mission of the National Guard as a strategic# reserve for our military and for our nation.

NICK SCHIFRIN: But if I may ask, one# of the missions of the National Guard,## is it not, to be able to help with law# enforcement.

So what's so wrong if this## vision is to have the National Guard# in fact help with law enforcement?

MAJ. GEN. RANDY MANNER (RET.

): The key# difference is that the governors control## the National Guards whenever they# are not deployed by the president.

As we have seen, not the mayor of# D.C., the mayor of Los Angeles,## no one is requesting this additional assistance.# This is something where the president is imposing## the armed military to go into American cities.# That is the most significant difference.

And## it's very important to remember that civil# disturbance deployments by governors is## actually the smallest amount of missions that have# ever been -- that are done by the National Guard.

It is a rarity, whereas now the# president is elevating it to be## a significant capability for the National Guard.

NICK SCHIFRIN: So let's just step back.# This focus on resourcing, training,## organizing to quell civil disturbances,# how different would that be from how## the National Guard is currently organized?

MAJ. GEN. RANDY MANNER (RET.

): All our young men## and women signed up for perhaps three reasons, to# serve our country, to defend our citizens overseas## against threats and, number two, to be able to# save our citizens in times of natural disaster.

And the third objective, of course, which,# by the way, it's been a very distant third,## but it's on the list, is to be able to# -- as needed by the governor or mayors,## to back up their local authorities, their# law enforcement authorities as needed,## to back them up if perhaps they are overwhelmed# with some kind of an emergency that occurs.

It is not the predominant mission of the# National Guard to do this.

If the president## is concerned about law enforcement, then what# he should do is restore the $100 million to## law enforcement for community engagement to# recruit and train officers in that capacity.

Our Guardsmen on the streets of D.C. right now,# which I was a D.C. Guardsman for 13 years, they## are not trained in law enforcement.

Whereas law# enforcement officers receive four to six months## of training, our young men and women receive# three or four hours of training, not months.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Let's talk about the impact on the# Guard -- Guardsman themselves.

Defense officials## tell me that the quick reaction force would# be able to cover the entire continental U.S.,## which would require splitting up a quick# reaction force, a few hundred in the West,## perhaps Arizona, a few hundred in# the South or East, perhaps Alabama.

Could that work?

And what would be the# impact on the Guard's overall staffing,## the ability to perform those other functions, if# this quick reaction force were created like that?

MAJ. GEN. RANDY MANNER (RET.

): First of# all, the use of the National Guard in## all of these deployments, 4,000 down in# Los Angeles, over 2,000 into Washington,## D.C., are decreasing military readiness because# those soldiers are no longer training for their## combat operations missions.

That's very# important for your viewers to understand.

They are not doing their principal job.

We should# not be using the military against our own people## in any capacity.

This is not the history of# our military, and we should not go there.

NICK SCHIFRIN: And finally, sir, the Guardsmen# who would be part of a quick reaction force## would be on perhaps a one-hour or two-hour# time frame to be able to deploy.

It means,## for example, soldiers couldn't drink.

They# couldn't travel very far with their families.

They would have to be close enough# to the base to be able to respond## that quickly.

What is possible under the# current level of National Guard staffing,## and is that vision something that the# National Guard could even execute today?

MAJ. GEN. RANDY MANNER (RET.

): I was a member of# the 82nd Airborne Division.

We rotated readiness## and we had anywhere between four to eight hours# whenever we were on division ready brigade status.

The National Guard does not operate# that way.

These are part-time citizen## soldiers.

It is something where this# is not physically possible to have a## unit of any size ready to go with 400# people in that way, unless, of course,## you were to triple or quadruple the cup the# size of the unit and rotate people through.

This is not thought through.

This is not# representative of a good, thorough mission## planning.

Even within -- when I was in charge# of Army operations worldwide on the Army staff,## we obviously had to rotate units through Iraq# and Afghanistan, both from the point of view## of those that were in the combat theater, those# that were training up for the combat theater,## and then those that were returning from, so that# they could focus on getting individual training,## as well as, of course, have# some time with their families.

It is not possible and it# is not thought through the## way that it is being talked about at this time.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Retired Army Major General# Randy Manner, thank you very much.

MAJ. GEN. RANDY MANNER (RET.

): Thank you.

AMNA NAWAZ: They're on pavements, in# gardens, and in our local parks.

If## you're in the Northeast, you have probably# seen a spotted lanternfly this summer.

GEOFF BENNETT: The invasive species# has now spread to nineteen states,## devouring dozens of plants, most notably# grapevines, as correspondent Deema Zein reports.

DEEMA ZEIN: In the foothills of# Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains,## Loving Cup Vineyard buzzes with life.

KARL HAMBSCH, Loving Cup Vineyard and# Winery: There's just a host of tiny## little insects that you would never know were# there, but they're constan.. DEEMA ZEIN: But this year, owner Karl Hambsch# says, it's crawling with a new unwelcome visitor.

KARL HAMBSCH: This is a spotted lanternfly adult.

DEEMA ZEIN: The bug doesn't feed on grape# leaves or fruit like other invasive species.

KARL HAMBSCH: It sticks a straw into the# vine and it sucks the sap from the vine,## the energy out of the vine.# So it's like a little vampire.

DEEMA ZEIN: As Virginia's only certified# organic vineyard and winery, loving-cup## can't spray conventional insecticides to# kill the little freeloaders.

So Hambsch## has taken a drastic step, removing about# 15 to 25 percent of the vineyard's fruit.

KARL HAMBSCH: We removed all the clusters# off of these vines to allow them to bank the## extra energy just to grow leaves and to prepare# themselves for infestation by spotted lanternfly.

DEEMA ZEIN: Young spotted lantern flies# feast on more than 70 plant species,## but when they mature into adults, they become# pickier eaters and mainly focus on two plants,## the tree of heaven, another# invasive species and grapevines.

KARL HAMBSCH: Every invasive that# has come into the vineyard has## ultimately been absorbed by nature, but this# is one that we might lose the vineyard for.

DEEMA ZEIN: Virginia's wineries are just the# latest targets of the spotted lanternfly,## which first arrived in the country# about a decade ago on a shipment## of stone from Asia to Southeastern Pennsylvania.

They hit the Keystone State's wineries# hard, says entomologist Doug Pfeiffer.

DOUGLAS PFEIFFER, Professor, Virginia Tech:# When it was first introduced before people## really knew what it was or how to handle# it, there were actually entire blocks of## vineyards that were killed by the# feeding of spotted lanternfly.

DEEMA ZEIN: These bugs have made# a slow, destructive rampage south## hitchhiking on trucks, trains and cars.# After arriving here in Virginia in 2018,## spotted lanternflies exploded across the# region and experts say they're here to say.

DOUGLAS PFEIFFER: So in the# near term, near to midterm,## we can have high numbers because of the lack# of natural enemies to provide natural control.

DEEMA ZEIN: While they're now part of the# landscape across much of the Northeast,## Virginians are adjusting to the state's# new red-and-polka dotted residents.

WOMAN: I have seen them everywhere.

MAN: They make me extremely angry.# They're all over our deck.

We.. even enjoy spending time on the deck as a family.

MAN: They will like randomly fly in my face when## I'm walking back from work or# something.

It's kind of funny.

DEEMA ZEIN: And some have taken up the call from## state and local governments# to kill the bugs on sight.

MAN: I heard they're, like, pretty# invasive.

So I do kill them.

WOMAN: We squish them.

DEEMA ZEIN: But not without some hesitation.

MAN: They are fellow mortals.

So# I do have mixed emotions about it.

DEEMA ZEIN: But does squashing# lanternflies actually help?

Bug## expert Doug Pfeiffer says, it depends.

DOUGLAS PFEIFFER: In those early# stages, in the very beginning,## you could possibly slow things down# that way.

But once it's in an area,## that's really not going to retard# the population growth very much.

DEEMA ZEIN: They have been spotted as# far south as Atlanta and as far West## as Chicago.

And studies show they could# eventually make their way to California,## home to the nation's largest wine region.

MAN: Good job.

DEEMA ZEIN: But scientists are researching how to## enlist other species in the# effort to stop the spread.

MAN: Yes.

DEEMA ZEIN: One recent study found that dogs# can be trained t.. MAN: Good boy.

DEEMA ZEIN: And another is looking# into bringing its natural predators## from overseas, two types of parasitic wasps.

Back at Loving Cup Vineyard, Karl# Hambsch hopes nature will rebalance soon.

KARL HAMBSCH: Every other invasive# that has come through the vineyard## seemed really scary at first,# and once we learned about it,## we understood what we could tolerate.

And also,# to a certain extent, nature has adjusted itself## to absorb the new invasive.

It takes time.

But# once nature gets moving, it can do quite a bit.

DEEMA ZEIN: For now, local wine drinkers are# hoping that Mother Nature gets a move on.

For "PBS News Hour," I'm Deema# Zein in Northern Virginia.

GEOFF BENNETT: Finally tonight, a Brief# But Spectacular take on digital equity.

AMNA NAWAZ: Matthew Rantanen# shares his insights from his## decades-long work expanding# broadband in Indian country.

MATTHEW RANTANEN, Founder, Tribal Broadband# Boot Camp: You're watching this today.

You're## probably looking at it on a mobile device, and# you're very fortunate to be able to do that,## that you have streaming capability to# be able to watch something like a video,## where Indian country still# does not have this access.

I grew up in Washington around some# tribes, the Nez Perce, the Coeur d'Alene,## the Colville, the Spokane.

I got to# see what reservation life was like.## We would play soccer over there,# and they didn't have the same## resources.

As soon as you drove onto the# reservation, things seemed different.

During the Obama administration, I worked with# the CTO of the United States to identify the## missing link, right, between why did tribes not# have access to broadband?

Twenty-five years ago,## when fiber-optic networks were# laid across the United States,## they were doing it at a fast pace.# They did not know how to navigate a## tribal government, so they built around# the reservation border and kept going.

The benefits of a broadband coverage in# the tribal space is that telemedicine,## education, access to job search,# vocational training, e-commerce,## without broadband you don't# have access to any of that.

I created the Tribal Broadband Boot Camp# with Christopher Mitchell.

It was in direct## response to an outcry from tribes for# information and access to funding and## access to resources around broadband.

They# get in there, and they had one solution,## and they have solved their problem one way,# when they don't know that another tribe has## done something differently, and there's an# alternative solution to be able to do that.

They have become each other's resources.# They don't have to rely outside of## India and country to solve problems# together.

My vision for the future is,## all the tribes that can manage and operate their# own communications networks get funded to do so,## and then those tribes that don't have the# opportunity have the ability to work with## tribes that do and scale up tribal companies that# would support those smaller reservations that## don't have the capacity to do it themselves,# Indian country supporting Indian country.

A cyber warrior, to me, is -- it's# me.

I'm doing policy work in D.C. with## the Federal Communications Commission, with# Congress.

I'm liaising between the California## Department of Technology and all 109 tribes# in California to get them access to broadband.

I'm certainly shaped like a warrior,# 6'4'', like 270, and ready to go.

My name is Matthew Rantanen, and this is my Brief# But Spectacular take on the power of connection.

AMNA NAWAZ: And you can watch more Brief But## Spectacular videos online# at PBS.org/NewsHour/Brief.

And that is the "News Hour"# for tonight.

I'm Amna Nawaz.

GEOFF BENNETT: And I'm Geoff Bennett.

For all of us here at the "PBS News Hou..